Filling carriers for shuttleless looms



April 16, 1963 G. F. BELFORTI 3,085,598

FILLING CARRIERS FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed May 22, 1961 IN VEN TOR. GEORGE F. BELFORT/ A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,085,598 FILLING CARRERS FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS George F. Belforti, Milford, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,842 Claims. (Cl. 139-122) This invention relates to improvements in filling carriers for use in shuttleless looms, that is, in looms of the type in which the filling is supplied from a source outside of a shuttle or filling inserting means itself.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a filling carrier that is separable from the carrier inserting member.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a detachable type carrier with yarn deflecting surfaces that will be guarded against abnormal interferencewith the filling thread and warp threads as it is inserted into the shed and withdrawn therefrom.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a detachable type filling carrier that can be easily and quick- =ly removed at the loom, thus eliminating the expense and required down time of a loom necessary to change carriers of conventional design.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

In so-called shuttleless looms, that is, in looms in which filling is supplied from an outside source and is not carried back and forth through the shed it is common practice to insert each pick of filling by means of two reciproeating members, one of which will hereinafter be referred to as an inserter or inserting member and the other of which receives or has transferred to it that loop of filling projected into the shed by the inserting member and will hereinafter be referred to as a filling receiving or filling extending carrier.

These carriers are usually permanently attached in any suitable manner such, for example, as welding or brazing to the carrier inserting members themselves. Removal and replacement of carriers of this type have presented conditions of an unfavorable nature in that excessive time and expense are required to remove a worn carrier or changing over to a specific carrier desired for a particular type of weave.

According to the instant invention, applicants novel carrier can be quickly and easily removed from and replaced on the carrier inserting member while on the loom without disturbing any settings important to smooth and satisfactory performance of the various parts of said loom working in conjunction therewith.

The present invention concerns itself primarily with the method and manner of attaching filling carriers to the free end of the carrier inserting members and since these carriers of the instant invention are caused to perform their intended functions in the same manner as carriers of the prior art, it is considered suificient at this point merely to call attention to certain patents which are illustrative of the type of loom concerned. Accordingly, reference is hereby made to the information disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,586,638; 2,604,123; 2,705,508; and 2,928,427.

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a filling extending carrier showing the novel means of attachment to the carrier inserting member;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partially in section of the trailing end of the carrier and carrier inserting member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similiar to that of FIG. 2 but a slight modification thereof;

3,085,598 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the indicating arrows 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the free end of the carrier inserting member illustrating the bifurcated portion that is adapted to receive the trailing end of carriers;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing a modified form of securing the carrier within the bifurcated portion of the carrier inserting member;

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the filling inserting carrier and its means of attachment to the carrier inserting member;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the trailing end of the carrier and carrier inserting member shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation partially in section of the trailing end of the carrier and carrier inserting member of the modified means of assembly illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 6.

Now referring to the figures of drawing the filling carriers to which the present invention is applicable are formed as detachable members at the free end of flexible carriers or tapes 11 and 12. Tape 11 projects the filling extending carrier shown in FIG. 1 to a point approximately midway within the shed where it meets and receives a loop of filling of a predetermined length from the inserting carrier of FIG. 7 and which was projected into the shed by tape 12.

Aside from the novel means of assembling the filling extending carrier, generally indicated by numeral 13, to the free end of tape 11, this carrier is formed substantially the same as the extending carrier disclosed in co-pending application No. 14,336, filed March 11, 1960, now Patent No. 3,034,539. It is considered sufiicient to call attention to the information disclosed therein for a detailed description of this carrier and the method employed for receiving and extending the filling yarn within the shed. Likewise the inserting carrier generally indicated by numeral 14 in FIG. 7 presents a similar situation in that aside from its novel means of attachment to tape 12 it is formed substantially the same as the inserting carrier disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,586,638 and it is also considered sufficient to call attention to the information disclosed therein for a detailed description of this carrier.

As shown in FIG. 5, tape 1'1 is provided at its free end with a bifurcated portion which is cut away to an extent defined by the parallel sides '15, thus providing a recess or cut-out portion adapted to assemble within mating or cooperating grooves provided in the lower trailing end 1 6 of the extending carrier 13.

The trailing end 16 of this carrier tapers outwardly as at 17 and 18 (FIG. 1) a distance sufficient so as to overlie and underlie the bifurcated portion of tape 11 as defined by its parallel sides 15. The overlying portions 19 and 20 of the carriers trailing end 16 have provided therein at least one and preferably two juxtaposed vertically tapped holes 21 which pass through the overlying portions 19 and 20 into the mating or cooperating grooves adapted to receive the bifurcated portion of tape 11. Headless set screws 22 assemble within the tapped holes 21 and when turned in a clockwise direction are caused to bear against tape 11 thus locking carrier 13 in operating operating position. At 21' the underside of the carrier extends from below the tape to a point 22' which lies above the tape to present interference-free surfaces to the warp threads.

Points 17 and 18 where this carrier tapers outwardly also present yarn deflecting'surfaces to assist in interference-free insertion of the carrier into the shed and withdrawal therefrom.

As shown in FIG. 5, the throat portion of the recessed free end of tape 11 is provided with an elongated tongue 23 that extends lengthwise to the tape and slightly upwardly to conform generally to the tapered trailing end 16 of the carrier itself. Tongue 23 is spring biased in the direction of the carrier and its tip is seated within a formed recess 24 centrally positioned in the carriers tapered trailing end 16.

One end of tongue 23 being integral with tape 11 and its tip or free end being seated within recess 24 presents a yarn deflecting surface at the carriers trailing end which assures smooth and interference-free insertion of the carrier into the shed and withdrawal therefrom.

FIG. 3 illustrates a slight modification of this carrier in that the tip of tongue 23 is curved slightly downwardly as at 25 to conform to the internal configuration of recess 26 located in the same position on the tapered trailing end 16 in place of recess 24. This modification presents an additional clamping means for positioning the carrier in operating position when assembled to the end of tape 11.

FIG. 6 shows another modification of securing the carrier to the tape whereby the carrier does not extend laterally at its trailing end as with the carrier shown in FIG. 1 and in place of tapped holes 21 and headless set screws 22, this carrier is provided on its tapered trailing end 25' with at least one vertically and centrally disposed tapped hole 26 which extends downwardly to a circular opening adapted to receive a pin 27 transversely disposed 'in relationship to the length of the carrier. The carrier is provided with mating or cooperating grooves like those of the carrier in FIG. 1 which are positioned in such a manner as to permit contact between pin 27 and the upper surface of the bifurcated portion of the tape when assembled therein. A headless set screw 28 assembles in the tapped hole 26 and when turned in a clockwise direction it is caused to bear against pin 27 which in turn is caused to exert pressure on the tape 11 thus locking the carrier thereto in operating position. The forward portion of the extending carrier 13 includes the usual vertical side plate 29 that terminates at its leading end in the form of a point 30. Plate 29 is supplemented at its forward end by a substantially flat, laterally extending top surface 31 which has extending therefrom an inclined forward surface 32. Surface 32 includes a filling engaging hook 33 against which a combined trapping and tensioning member 34 is caused to be positioned. The trapping and tensioning member 34 permits the loop of filling yarn to enter the filling engaging hook at time of transfer from the inserting carrier and being spring biased in the direction of the inclined surface 32 it provides proper tensioning of the filling during its extension through the remainder of the shed.

-FIG. 7 shows the inserting carrier 14 and its novel means of attachment to the tape 12 which in all respects is formed identical to tape 11 which is adapted for attachment to the extending carrier 13. Carrier 14 also includes mating or cooperating grooves in the lower trailing end 35 which are adapted to receive therein the bifurcated portion of tape 12. The sides of the carrier at its trailing end 35 are also provided with vertically tapped holes 36 which are adapted to receive headless set screws 37. As with the extending carrier, these set screws when turned in a clockwise direction are caused to bear against the tape which in turn locks this carrier in operating position. Tape 12 is also provided with an elongated tongue 38 the tip of which being spring biased in the direction of the carrier is seated within a formed recess 39 centrally located on the upper trailing surface 35 of the carrier itself. As with the aforementioned carrier the tongue 38 positioned in this manner presents a yarn deflecting surface that assures smooth and interference-free insertion of this carrier into the shed and withdrawal therefrom.

Although the drawing does not illustrate the modifications of the invention as being applied to the inserting carrier, it is to be understood that these modifications are equally applicable to either the extending or inserting carriers.

The inserting carrier 14 includes the conventional boxlike structure which comprises a top planar portion having a filling receiving notch 40 that cooperates with an oflset filling receiving notch 41 in the lower portion of this structure. The lower portion is also cut away to an extent defined by the parallel sides 42 thus providing a recess or cut-out portion for entry of the cooperating portion of the filling extending carrier generally indicated by numeral 13.

In operation the filling yarn is projected into the shed and extended therethrough in a manner well known to those familiar with the art; however, the expense and time element involved for removing and replacing worn carriers or changing to a preferred type of carrier for a particular type of weave can now be reduced considerably by means of applicants novel filling carriers. These carriers can be quickly and easily removed and replaced at the loom without disturbing any settings important to smooth and satisfactory performance of the various parts of the loom working in conjunction therewith.

The carriers of the instant invention and their inserting means have been more or less specifically described with reference to their application to a particular type of loom. It is to be understood, however, that these looms take varying forms and instead of flexible tapes the carriers may be reciprocated by relatively stiff and straight elements such as needles and the actual carriers themselves and the filling handling devices may he drastically modified so long as the general principles of operation remain the same.

While one embodiment and a modification of the intion have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. For a loom having rociprocable carriers mounted on flexible tapes by which filling from an outside source of supply is inserted within sheds formed by warp threads, a filling carrier detachably mounted to the free end of said tape, longitudinally extending, opposed and recessed mating assembly grooves being provided in the lower trailing end of said carrier, said tape being bifurcated at said free end and adapted to receive therein said assembly grooves of said carriers trailing end, a clamping means provided in the trailing side portions of said carrier whereby the same may be securely attached within said bifurcated portion of said tape.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the points of assembly of said carrier to said tape are provided with yarn deflecting surfaces to assure interference-free insertion of said carrier into said sheds and withdrawal therefrom.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said clamping means includes headless set screws assembled in the trailing side portions of said carrier and tightened to the extent so as to clamp said bifurcated portion of said tape within said mating assembly grooves of said carrier.

4. For a shuttleless loom, a filling carrier introducing member which comprises a substantially flat tape, one end of which is adapted to receive detachably a filling carrier, said end of said tape being bifurcated for the reception of said carrier, and said end further including a yarn deflecting member formed integral with said tape and having a free end which is adapted to be received into a recess provided in the trailing upper portion of said carrier and which extends intermediate the bifurcated end of said tape.

5. For a loom having reciprocable carriers mounted on flexible tapes by which filling from an outside source of end of which is adapted to seat in a recess provided in 10 *6 the upper trailing end of said carrier and in pressing relationship therewith, whereby said tongue provides an upper Warp deflecting surface during insertion of said carrier into said sheds and withdrawal therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hathaway et a1 May 27, 1930 Tomkinson et a1. May 3, 1932 

1. FOR A LOOM HAVING RECIPROCABLE CARRIES MOUNTED ON FLEXIBLE TAPES BY WHICH FILLING FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE OF SUPPLY IS INSERTED WITHIN SHEDS FORMED BY WARP THREADS, A FILLING CARRIER DETACHABLY MOUNTED TO THE FREE END OF SAID TAPE, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, OPPOSED AND RECESSED MATING ASSEMBLY GROOVES BEING PROVIDED IN THE LOWER TRAILING END OF SAID CARRIER, SAID TAPE BEING BIFURCATED AT SAID FREE END AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEREIN SAID ASSEMBLY GROOVES OF SAID CARRIER''S TRAILING END, A CLAMPING MEANS PROVIDED IN THE TRAILING SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID CARRIER WHEREBY THE SAME MAY BE SECURELY ATTACHED WITHIN SAID BIFURCATED PORTION OF SAID TAPE. 